Handle for sensory and instrument having light projecting means



J1me 1952 R. E. ULRICH HANDLE FOR SENSORY AID INSTRUMENT HAVING LIGHT PROJECTING MEANS Filed Nov. 29, 1949 (Ittomeg Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED STATES PA'E'E FFHQE HANDLE FOR SENSORY AID INSTRUMENT HAVING LIGHT PROJECTING MEAN Robert E. Ulrich, Riverton, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware 6 Claims.

This invention relates to instruments for the blind, and more particularly to an improved handle for carrying a sensory aid instrument for blind persons.

It is a specific requirement of instruments which will assist blind persons to determine the presence of obstacles in their path that they be equipped with means for determining their orientation with respect to the terrain. This is particularly true of sensory aid instruments which employ an optical system for detecting the presence and range of an object in the path of the blind person. For example, in one system of this kind, when a beam of light, which is projected forwardly of the instrument, is intercepted, the instrument translates the information into a distinctive signal which varies according to the distance between the object and the instrument. Therefore, it becomes necessary for the blind person to know the direction in which the beam of light is projected, as well as its angular relation with respect to the terrain about him, in order that he may properly interpret the signals transmitted to him by the instrument. While most instruments of this kind are usually provided with a handle for convenience in carrying, it is the primary object of my present invention to provide an improved handle for these instruments which will enable a blind person through his sense of touch to quickly and accurately determine the orientation of the instrument.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide a handle for carrying a sensory aid instrument for a blind person by means of which he may be constantly advised of the orientation of the instrument.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a handle for the case enclosing a sensory aid instrument for a blind person which permits quick orientation thereof without groping for other distinguishing parts of the instrument.

It is also an object of my present invention to provide a handle for sensory aid instruments for the blind which will enable a user thereof to positively adjust and comfortably maintain the instrument at a desired angle with respect to the ground.

Another object of my present invention is to provide an adjustable handle for a sensory aid device which is simple to adjust and which can be easily accommodated to hands of difierent sizes.

In accordance with my present invention, the handle for carrying a sensory aid instrument enclosed in a case having a front face through which the instrument can project a beam of light along a definite axis comprises an elongated member dimensioned to be gripped by the hand of the carrier and having a forward portion and a rearward portion, and means for mounting the handle on the case. The forward portion is disposed on the case in a manner such that, when it is held in the carrier's hand in a normal, horizontal carrying position, it will be substantially directly above the center of gravity of the instrument, and the instruments light beam will be oriented to project forwardly along a substantially horizontal axis. The rearward portion of the handle is disposed on the casing in a manner such that, when it is held in the carriers hand in a normal, horizontal carrying position, the instrument will be tilted so that the beam of light will be oriented to project at an angle with respect to the horizontal, and the rearward portion of the handle will be substantially directly above the instruments center of gravity. Thus, the angle of pointing at or below the horizontal depends upon the selective positioning of the 'users hand when gripping the forward or rearward portions of the handle. In addition thereto, the handle may also be provided with a compartment for accommodating a mechanism for transmitting a distinctive signal to the hand of the carrier, as well as provided with adjustable stop means for determining respectively the forward and rearward gripping positions.

The novel features characteristic of my present invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a case containing a sensory aid instrument and equipped with a handle in accordance with my present invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the handle illustrated in Figure l, a portion thereof being shown broken away,

Figure 3 is a sectional View, taken on the line 3-3, of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation illustrating the instrument in horizontal carrying position and with the light beam projected forwardly along a substantially horizontal axis with respect to the ground, and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation, similar to Figure 4, showing the instrument in a tilted carrying position and with the light beam projected at an angle to the ground. 1

Referring more particularly to the drawing,

wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout, there is shown, in Figure 1, a case or housing I for a sensory aid instrument of the optical type which is capable of projecting a narrow beam of light through a lens 3 mounted in the front face 5 of the case I. The instrument operates in a manner such, that, when the beam is intercepted by an object in its path, the illuminated spot on the object serves as a secondary source which is imaged at a conjugate point of a second lens I which is also mounted in the casing front face 5 and is spaced from the lens 3, the information received being translated into a distinctive signal which is interpreted by the user according to a table of coded distances.

In accordance with my present invention, I provide a handle II for the instrument case I which, according to the particular embodiment shown, is disposed above the case and is secured thereto at its opposite ends by any suitable means. The handle II is elongated and arcuate longitudinally, and is dimensioned to be gripped by the hand of a person carrying the instrument. Al-

though the handle II is shown as comprising a main body or support member I3, with outer plates or members I5 mounted on opposite sides thereof, the assembly being held together by screws II, it may be made from a single piece of material, or in any other desired shape or combination of parts. For the purpose of attaching shoulder strap I9 to the instrument I, the handle II is provided with eyelets 2| to receive strap connecting members 23.

The handle I I is so shaped and mounted on the 3 5 case I as to provide a forward portion 25 and a rearward portion 21. The forward portion 25 is disposed on the case I in a manner such that, when it is held in a normal, horizontal carrying position, as particularly illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing, the instrument and its case I will likewise be in a horizontal position so that the beam of light, which is represented by the arrow 25, will be projected forwardly along substantially a horizontal axis above the ground 28, and the forward portion 25 of the handle II will be disposed substantially directly over the center of gravity of the instrument, as represented by the small circle 32, thereby to provide a balanced structure. on the case I in a manner such that it makes an angle with the light beam 2 6 whereby, when it is held in a normal, horizontal carrying position, as illustrated in Figure of the drawing, the instrument and its case I will assume an inclined position so that the beam of light 25 will be projected at the angle 0 with respect to the ground 28, and the rearward portion 21 of the handle will be disposed substantially directly over the center of gravity of the instrument thereby to provide a balanced structure.

In order that the forward and rearward gripping positions can be quickly, easily and accurately located by the sense of touch of the blind person, a pair of stops 29 and 36 are adjustably mounted on the handle. As shown in Figure 2, the stops 29, 30 comprise slotted plates 3| having a depending portion 33 extending through an opening 35 in the underneath side of handle I I and with an arcuate extension 35 projecting from the depending portion 33 against which a finger of the carriers hand may be disposed. The slotted plates 3| are slidably mounted on guide bearings 31 attached to the main .body member I3 of the handle II for easy, Slid- The rearward portion 21 is disposed 4 able movement longitudinally of the handle. After adjustment is effected, the stops 29, 30 are secured in place by screws 39, which can be loosened to effect further adjustment of the stops, if necessary, thereby to accommodate a hand of different size. Thus, the carrier is constantly informed by his sense of touch as to the instruments relative orientation with respect to the ground. When the forward stop 29 is engaged by the forefinger of the carriers hand, he knows the instrument is projecting the beam of light forwardly along a horizontal axis, as in Figure 4; and when the rearward stop 30 is engaged by the small finger of his hand, he knows the instrument is in a position to direct the beam of light at a definite angle with respect to the ground, as in Figure 5.

While some instruments are equipped with a hearing aid instrument to convey a, distinctive signal to the carrier, others make use of a vibratory mechanism for transmitting the distinctive signal to the users hand. In the latter case, the signal indicator may be of the type more particularly described in the Cranberg Patent No. 2,468,042 or it may be of any other suitable type. In accordance with a preferred modification of my present invention, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, a cavity M is provided in the'handle II, and such a vibratory mechanism 43 is conveniently mounted therein in a position such that the signals will be transmitted effectively to the carriers hand through the handle regardless of the carrying position of the instrument.

Thus, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that I have provided an improved handle for sensory aid instruments which will enable a blind person, through his sense of touch, and substantially without conscious effort, to maintain and be at all times informed as to the operating position of the instrument without groping for distinguishing parts. While I have described and illustrated but a single embodiment of my present invention, it will also be recognized that various changes and modifications are possible within the spirit of my invention. Therefore, I desire that the particular form of my invention described herein shall be considered as illustrative and not as limiting.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sensory aid instrument for a blind person, the combination with a case therefor having a center of gravity and a-front surface through which a light beam may be Projected along a definite axis, of a handle for carrying and orienting said case, said handle comprising an elongated member having front and rear carrying portions arranged to be separately gripped by the hand of the blind person for orienting said case in a horizontal or tilted position respectively, said front portion being disposed along a line which is substantially parallel to said light beam axis, said rear carrying portion being disposed along a line which is at an angle with respect to said light beam axis, and both of said carrying portions being disposed on said casing in a common plane which includes the center of gravity of said case and said light beam axis and also being respectively disposed substantially vertically directly over said center of gravity when said carrying portions are held respectively in said horizontal and said tilted carrying position in the hand of the blind person.

2. A sensory aid instrument according to claim 1 wherein each of said portions is, provided with means for readily locating, respectively, said front and rear gripping portions.

3. A sensory aid instrument according to claim 1 wherein each of said portions is provided with adjustable stop means for readily locating, respectively, said front and rear gripping portions.

4. A sensory aid instrument according to claim 2 wherein said handle is provided with a cavity within which means for transmitting a distinctive signal to the hand of the blind person is adapted to be mounted.

5. A sensory aid instrument according to claim 4 wherein said cavity is disposed in a position accessible to the hand of the blind person irrespective of which of said front and rear handle portions is grasped.

6. The combination with a case for a sensory aid instrument for a blind person, said instrument having means for projecting a beam of light forwardly along a definite axis, of a handle for carrying said instrument and determining the orientation thereof, said handle comprising a forward carrying portion arranged to be gripped by a hand of said blind person and disposed on said case substantially parallel to said definite axis substantially directly above the center of gravity of said instrument when said forward carrying portion is held in a horizontal position to project said light beam in a horizontal path,

and a rearward carrying portion arranged to be gripped by the blind person's hand, said rearward carrying portion being disposed rearwardly of said instrument at a predetermined angle with respect to said forward carrying portion and substantially directly above said center of gravity when said rearward carrying portion is held in a horizontal position to project said light beam at a definite angle downwardly with respect to the ground.

ROBERT E. ULRICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 702,403 Chapman June 17, 1902 1,008,604 Lake Nov. 14, 1911 1,122,104 Gruen Dec. 22, 1914 1,706,387 Kramer Mar. 19, 1929 2,468,042 Cranberg Apr. 26, 1949 2,472,420 'Hagner June 7, 1949 2,506,946 Walker May 9, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 548,378 Great Britain Oct. 8, 1942 

